Design Principles: Balance, Rhythm Emphasis and Harmony

Design Principles: Balance, Rhythm Emphasis and Harmony

Balance:

a state of equalibrium of the visual forces in
a composition.
Balance depends upon visual weights of the architectural and interior
elements -- visual weight is determined by “the psychological impact an
element makes on us and the the attention it demands.

Three types of Balance, Symmetrical/Asymmetrical/Radial

Axial or bilateral symmetry (formal/passive) :

arrangement of identical elements about a common line
(axis).symmetry is static and demands little attention from the observer,
totally symmetrical spaces impose a strict formality and are difficult
functionally and literally.
Symmetry can be used to focus attention on something important.
Visual interest is enhance by inclusion of more than one axis:
arrangement of dissimilar elements/spaces to achieve optical balance.

Asymmetry

is less obvious, it stirs interest and
curiousity in the observer and provokes thought.

Vertical Balance is also at issue the higher above eye level
something is the more visual Weight it carries.

Radial balance:

arrangement of elements or spaces around
a center point.

Rhythm:

continuity, recurrence or organized movement in
space & time.
Sequence is the experience of the rhythm. One space may have several
different rhythms ...

Repetition:

Progression:

a sequence or transition produced by
increasing or decreasing one or more qualities, progression is ordered
systematic change: Radiation (as in a spiral) ,
gradation (as in forms or colors that evolve).

Contrast:

deliberate placement of elements to create
opposition by abrupt transition rather than gradual.
Contrast heightens values/interest through comparison (or Tension).

Emphasis:

the creation of dominant and subordinant
elements in a composition:
• emphisis also involves a temporal element.....certain visual images
engage one’s attention before releasing it so that one can attend to
other stimuli.

Layers of emphasis

Emphatic
Dominant
SubdominanT
Subordinant

Points of emphisis can be created by enhancing the visual weight
or psychological impact.

Harmony:

the pleasing agreement of parts or combination
of parts in a composition --

Harmony involves the selection/design of elements that share a
common trait, however, Harmony becomes monotony without Variety.

Common traits
orientation
colors or values
shape/size
materials
variety: the extent of the differences in design elements -- visual
interest is enhanced by introducing dissimilar elements and spatial
arrangements.